For the third straight year, the Corner Canyon boys lacrosse team is the state’s best. This season, in the 6A state championship game—after a lightning delay of nearly two hours—the top-ranked Chargers defeated No. 2 Fremont 19-5 May 26 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.

Corner Canyon scored five goals in less than two minutes to break open a 1-1 ballgame early and then put two more shots in the cage in the closing seconds of the first quarter to go up 10-1. Senior First-Team All-Region attacker Blake Franckowiak led the Chargers with four goals and six assists while senior First-Team All-Region midfielder Jacob Osborn added three goals and two assists in the title game.

“This year’s team is something special,” said CCHS head coach Aaron Ika, who was also named Region 4 Coach of the Year this year, an honor he was additionally recognized with in 2021 and 2022. “To get to a championship game in and of itself is an accomplishment. To be able to share that experience three times with this group of players is unreal.”

After a first-round bye in the 6A state playoffs, top-seeded Corner Canyon beat Skyridge 19-0 May 18 behind eight goals and three assists from Osborn and two goals and four assists from Franckowiak. In a quarterfinal win over Lone Peak 16-7 May 20, Osborn had six goals and three assists while Franckowiak also recorded nine points with three goals and six assists. The Chargers then recorded its second shutout in the playoffs with a 15-0 semifinal victory over Farmington May 24, led by Osborn’s five goals and four assists and junior Luke West’s four goals and one assist on its way to the final game.

“People doubted we were going to be a team that could compete in a championship this year because we were replacing some key positions in faceoff and goalie,” Ika said. “But, players like [sophomore] Easton Daynes and [senior] Landon Bethers stepped up and got better at the faceoff position as the year went on and put on a display in the state championship. Goalies Mitch Phippen, [a junior First-Team All-Region selection], and [freshman] Rhett King were phenomenal in and out of the pipes for us all year.”

Franckowiak scored 70 goals and dished out 61 assists to lead Corner Canyon this season with Osborn netting 55 goals and recording 34 assists. “Blake and Jacob were able to shoulder the load offensively until the offense started clicking on all cylinders,” said Ika, noting memorable offensive performances with West’s hat trick early in the semifinal game and senior Jairus Checketts scoring a final high school goal in the championship game in spite of a torn meniscus and ACL injury.

Defensively, the Chargers were led by First-Team All-Region defenders in seniors Jack Baird, Lincoln Hanks and Zach Harden. “These are three of the best to ever put on a Corner Canyon uniform,” Ika said. “Not only did they impose their will on the other offenses that we played, but they were the first to lead the break on many of our highlight goals this season.”

Also on the CCHS squad that went 16-2 this year were First Team All-Region players in seniors Ben Brand, Sam Broman and Porter Wells; Second-Team All-Region junior midfielder Kisen Muramoto; seniors Dawsen Andersen, Carlos Becerra, Gio Hollingsworth, Brayden Mohamed, Trevor Ogden and Riley Stokes; juniors Lewis Anderson, Jack Dalley, Nick Erasmus, Landon Fleming, Ashton Free, Carson Hall, Braden Larson, Weston Mapes, Conner Welling and Conner Zaharis; sophomores Kaden Ballman, Alec Barnes, Damon Barnes, Seth Carlsen, Lincoln Crittendon, Cason Hiatt, AJ Leggett, Perry Lunstad, Maximus Mckenna, Paxton Newell, Tanner Oldroyd, Miles Parkinson, William Perry, Will Russell, Brock Sorenson, Max Taylor, Cole Wentworth and Michael Wheatley; and freshmen Tanner Adamson, Cole Bonham, Ashton Brown, Cameron Crayk, Quince Crittenden, Luke Fisher, Austin Larson and Asher Macpherson.

“This was a team that was pushed by the underclassmen, embraced by the seniors and brought another state title home for the third consecutive year,” Ika said. “As a coach, I am lucky to have the best coaching staff in the state. They make it all look easy but I know the countless hours and sleepless nights they put in on the boys’ behalf.”

Ika was assisted on that coaching staff by Jeff King, John Holmes, Dave Michaeli, Tyson Poole, Peter Osborn, Bryan Quick, Garrett Michaeli, Hayden Webb, Parker Tolman, Tallyn Goldman and Bray Hallman.

“Coach Ika is building a legacy at Corner Canyon and is insanely loved and respected not only by his players but many in the lacrosse community,” said Corner Canyon Youth Lacrosse Director Chandra Tillotson. “His coaching staff is comprised of only the best minds and hearts and he is the bond that keeps it all together, stronger and better each year. It’s quite remarkable.”

Girls

The Corner Canyon’s girls lacrosse team reached the 6A state quarterfinals this year losing a tight one to Bingham 13-11 May 20. 

“That loss stings but it happens,” said head coach Matt Kenning.

The third-seeded Chargers team, who earned a first-round bye, were led in the final game by senior Allison Reading, who is committed to play for the University of Massachusetts Lowell in the fall, with two goals and an assist as well as sophomore Catherine Faucette with the same output. Senior Malarie Story also added two goals.

In Corner Canyon’s second round game, the Chargers defeated Pleasant Grove 16-6 behind three goals and two assists from Reading and five goals from senior Abbey Richardson.

Kenning credited the contributions of Reading along with fellow talented seniors in returning All-American Kenzie Zimmerman, Hannah Berente and Sadi Peacock. “All of these girls were captains and amazing leaders on and off the field,” he said, noting the other nine seniors on the squad: Malarie Story, Breanne Cruz, Lizzie Gordon, Sessilee Halverson, Eden Linford, Ashlyn Pepper, Kamryn Stuart, Saige Talbot and Niya West. “It is sad to see all of our seniors graduate. I love them all. They worked so hard this season and even though we fell a little short it is still a season to look back on and be proud of.”

Corner Canyon was led offensively by sophomore Catherine Faucette with 55 goals while Story added 36 goals, Reading 32 goals, Zimmerman 30 goals and Berente 29 goals. Reading was the team’s top facilitator with 22 assists.

“Through a tough schedule we had some amazing games, and lost some nail biters for sure,” Kenning said. “Our team bonded well together.”

Also on the squad that went 13-5 this season were juniors Marissa Parker, Janneke Remick and Mia Wells; sophomores Mia Ambrose, Janset Aykanat, Brinley Criddle and Sophie Jacobs; and freshmen Alice Linford and Katelyn Moffat.

“We had a very balanced team and played an unselfish brand of lacrosse that led to a lot of success,” Kenning said. “I am super excited for next season and many more to come. I love this school and these kids. I know if we keep working at it and keep working on building up the youth we will start winning championships, much like the boys do.” λ